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IndiaSep 17, 2026

Balwant Singh Rajoana Writes to PM Modi, Seeks Decision on Mercy Petition

Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is serving a death sentence in connection with the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Patiala Central Jail, urging the government to make a decision on his long-pending mercy petition. In the letter, Rajoana said that no final decision has been taken on his mercy petition for the past 15 years. He said he has been in prison for 31 years and has been waiting for a final decision regarding his death sentence for a long time. Rajoana stated that he had never concealed his actions before th
21-killed-45-rescued-after-damaged-gaza-building-collapses
WorldSep 17, 2026

21 Killed, 45 Rescued After Damaged Gaza Building Collapses

At least 21 people, including eight children, were killed after a building damaged by bombardment collapsed in Gaza a day later. Rescue teams rescued 45 people alive from beneath the rubble, according to Palestinian officials. Rescue crews completed their search of the collapsed building on Thursday. Bulldozers are now being used to clear the debris and prepare space for tents to shelter displaced residents who had been living in the building. Gaza Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal said rescue teams managed to pull 45 people from the rubble and take them to hospitals despite a shortage
national-interest-over-party-interests-poilievre
BCSep 17, 2026

National Interest Over Party Interests: Poilievre

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has urged his MPs to put Canada’s national interest ahead of party interests during a Conservative caucus meeting in Penticton, B.C. Addressing his caucus, Poilievre said that in the current challenging period, including the impact of U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, Conservatives have a duty to put the country before the party. He said the Conservatives would support decisions by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government when they believe those decisions are in Canada’s interest, while opposing policies they disagree with. Poil
CanadaSep 17, 2026

911 Service Disrupted Across Several Canadian Provinces

911 emergency services were temporarily disrupted across several Canadian provinces early Thursday morning, including Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba. The outage was reported in multiple areas, prompting police departments to advise residents to use non-emergency numbers or Wi-Fi calling to reach emergency services. Bell Canada confirmed that a technical issue occurred on its network at around 3:13 a.m., after which backup systems were activated to route calls to emergency services. By around 6 a.m., police departments in Toronto, Peel, York, Durham, Hamilton and Winni
trump-directs-removal-of-canadian-goods-from-u-s-government-procurement
CanadaSep 17, 2026

Trump directs removal of Canadian goods from U.S. government procurement

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum directing his administration to examine steps that could restrict the purchase of Canadian-origin goods and services for the operations of the U.S. federal government. The memorandum assigns the Office of Management and Budget director and the U.S. Trade Representative to identify Canadian-origin goods and services covered by government procurement rules. They have also been directed to take legally available steps to remove or restrict those products from the federal procurement system. The Trump administration has described the move as a re
30-year-old-womans-death-in-fort-st-james-deemed-suspicious-rcmp-investigating
BCSep 16, 2026

30-Year-Old Woman’s Death in Fort St. James Deemed Suspicious, RCMP Investigating

The B.C. RCMP’s Major Crime Unit is investigating the death of a 30-year-old woman in Fort St. James as suspicious. The woman has been identified as Dayna Monk, and investigators are appealing to the public for information that could assist with the case. According to Fort St. James RCMP, emergency health services were called to a home in the 400-block of Stuart Drive on May 31 following reports that a woman was experiencing cardiac arrest. Despite resuscitation efforts, the woman could not be saved. Initial investigations did not indicate any criminal involvement in her death. However, foll
david-eby-instructs-ndp-to-be-ready-for-the-election
BCSep 16, 2026

David Eby Instructs NDP to Be Ready for the Election

British Columbia Premier David Eby says he has told NDP legislators to be “election ready” amid the disruption caused by the ongoing trade war with the United States. Eby said Cheryl Oates, his former acting chief of staff, will manage the NDP’s campaign for the next provincial election whenever it is called. However, he did not announce any date for the vote. The premier said he has informed both Elections B.C. and the NDP caucus that they need to be prepared for an election. His comments come as the Opposition B.C. Conservatives face internal changes, with nine members having left the
surrey-mayor-brenda-locke-slams-release-of-high-risk-offenders
BCSep 16, 2026

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke Slams Release of High-Risk Offenders

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has expressed strong concern after two high-risk offenders were released into the city within just two days. Following a public warning issued by the Surrey Police Service, Locke said violent offenders such as Jonathan Muzichka and Skyler Pelletier should not be released to live in Surrey. She said Surrey is home to more than 700,000 people and allowing high-risk offenders to repeatedly settle in the community raises serious concerns about public safety. Locke said she supports rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders, but the responsibility of managing high-risk
poilievre-calls-on-carney-to-clarify-canada-eu-talks
BCSep 16, 2026

Poilievre Calls on Carney to Clarify Canada-EU Talks

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to clarify discussions surrounding Canada’s potential associate membership, special alliance or any other proposed arrangement with the European Union. Poilievre said the Conservative Party’s position is clear: it fully supports Canada’s decades-old free trade relationship and NATO alliance with Europe, but strongly opposes imposing any European taxes, laws or open-border immigration policies on Canadians. He said Canada is an independent, sovereign country and that these principles cannot be compromised. Meanw

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CanadaSep 17, 2026

Canada Must Focus on Value-Added Products Instead of Raw Materials: EDC

Amid the federal government’s efforts to open up new markets, Export Development Canada (EDC) said in a report released Thursday that Canada needs to invest in processing raw materials domestically and turning them into higher-value products instead of exporting them in their raw form. EDC CEO Alison Nankivell said such investments could add nearly $100 billion to Canada’s GDP over the next decade. The report used yellow peas as an example. While exporting raw peas may generate about $30 per tonne, processing them into flour can raise the value to $300 per tonne. Turning them into products
16-arrested-in-abbotsford-retail-theft-operation-project-pumpkin-spice
BCSep 17, 2026

16 Arrested in Abbotsford Retail Theft Operation ‘Project Pumpkin Spice’

Abbotsford Police have arrested 16 people accused of shoplifting as part of Project Pumpkin Spice, a retail crime enforcement operation conducted on Sept. 11 as part of a nationwide campaign. According to police, 11 officers from the Abbotsford Police Department’s Street Outreach Response Team worked with 20 local businesses during the 10-hour operation. Sgt. Paul Walker said several of those arrested had previous criminal records and outstanding warrants. Police recovered more than $1,600 worth of stolen merchandise during the operation. A vehicle allegedly used in the offences was also sei
b-c-municipalities-urge-eby-to-hold-provincial-election-after-local-vote
BCSep 17, 2026

B.C. Municipalities Urge Eby to Hold Provincial Election After Local Vote

British Columbia’s political scene is heating up amid signals from Premier David Eby that an early provincial election could be called. Amid the uncertainty, Union of B.C. Municipalities president Cory Ramsay is calling for any potential mid-term provincial election to be held only after the municipal elections are completed. Ramsay noted that local elections are scheduled for Oct. 17, with campaigning beginning Sept. 19 across 188 communities. He warned that calling a provincial election during the municipal campaign could distract more than 3,500 local candidates and residents from key iss
police-take-major-action-in-burnaby-hospital-fire-case-after-six-year-investigation
BCSep 17, 2026

Police Take Major Action in Burnaby Hospital Fire Case After Six-Year Investigation

Police have charged a 29-year-old Alberta man in connection with a fire at Burnaby Hospital in 2020, following an investigation that lasted nearly six years. Burnaby RCMP said the B.C. Prosecution Service approved charges against Yu Yun Wang on September 8, including arson and endangering human life. The fire broke out on November 15, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the hospital’s mental health services wing. The blaze caused millions of dollars in damage, forced the emergency department to close and led to the evacuation of patients. Police said the suspect was identified in 2023 aft
AlbertaSep 17, 2026

Alberta Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Sexual Assaults on Vulnerable Women

An Alberta man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of sexual assaults against vulnerable women at a rural property near Calgary. Richard Robert Mantha, 62, was convicted of six offences, including drugging one of his victims, in incidents that occurred between 2019 and 2023. He was also found guilty of uttering threats against another woman. The court heard that most of the victims worked in the sex trade. Justice Judith Shriar said Mantha showed “callous disrespect” when he laughed as one terrified victim fled his rural property, fearing for her life. Mantha received cre